From sequence space to ecological function: microbiome-derived antimicrobial peptides as community effectors and...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biochemistry
• Genomics

Background:

• Antimicrobial peptide research traditionally focused on host defense molecules.
• Microbiomes are now recognized as a significant source of diverse peptide-based antimicrobials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the discovery, sources, ecological roles, and translational challenges of microbiome-derived antimicrobial peptides.
• To highlight the gap between large-scale candidate discovery and evidence of in vivo function.

Main Methods:

• Genome mining
• Metagenomics
• Machine learning
• Literature synthesis

Main Results:

• Advances in genomic tools have led to vast catalogues of predicted antimicrobial peptides from global microbiomes.
• These peptides function as anti-infectives and ecological mediators, influencing microbial competition and community structure.
• A significant limitation is the lack of experimental validation for native expression, producer identity, and ecological relevance for most candidates.

Conclusions:

• Future progress requires integrated workflows connecting sequence prediction with biological context (expression, producer assignment, community validation).
• Microbiome-derived antimicrobial peptides are crucial mediators of microbial social life, with ecological origins central to their application.
• Developing robust methods to link predicted peptides to their biological roles is essential for therapeutic and ecological applications.